Are Yoga Retreats Good For Beginners?

Yoga retreats stand for a transformational defined period where you invite time and space to restore your balance through the practice of yoga which encourages you to return into daily life recharged with your own creative energy that resides in the paradise dwelling within. Here are some tips and tricks to help you feel more comfortable before, during, and after your experience.

FIND A RETREAT THAT SUITS YOU

First, it is essential to ask yourself what you want to gain from this time and what kind of yoga you want to practice. Understanding your starting point is sine qua non condition: your physical, emotional, and mental state. These three states play an important role throughout the moment of choosing which type of retreat you are going for, especially since there is a wide variety of options such as yin, vinyasa flow, Hatha, Ashtanga, restorative, hot yoga, and so on…they are all different and will be suitable for you according to your needs and abilities. Another element to consider is finding a location that inspires you. There are so many options on this beautiful planet that it`s impossible to list here, so make sure you do your research and pick the location that pulls you – that surely will be a perfect background to be surrounded by during this magical time.

So now we come to the very specific key question: is yoga for you? Yoga is a very deep subject to immerse yourself in! It is an absolute commitment to a blissful lifestyle, therefore your life might probably change for the better after you go a bit deeper into it. Following this path takes patience, perseverance, and lots and lots of practice. One of the best ways to know if it is the right track for you are doing a little immersion or retreat.

START A DAILY ROUTINE

In a yoga retreat, you will be spending an average of three days to two weeks embodying the routine of a yogi in a very chilled rhythm, allowing you to be able to create your own schedule and incorporating more conscious activities that will shatter old behavior patterns and transform your mind and body.

1. Waking up at early hours (4-6am):, at Brahma Murta (In Vedic texts, the time of the day where your 3 constitutions or doshas are working together) when prana (your life force) is more available since your energy flows properly through your subtle energy channels. This means meditation, asana, and higher states are more easily reachable at this time.
2. Getting a taste of the Ayurvedic diet: most retreats offer sattvik food, meaning fresh, local, and sometimes organic products which are cooked very mindfully and taking care of synergies and food combining as well as taste. Vegetarianism is a very important Yama (yogi’s great vows) which highlights a living way of non-violence or non-harming.
3. Establishing a daily yoga practice: And this is the most powerful change. A retreat that offers a couple of classes a day, in the morning and in the evening, is a good base for a beginner to start feeling the benefits of this amazing ancient practice.

Be sure to observe yourself throughout the retreat to help you understand if you are made to perform asana; this practice will make your body strong and flexible but also might release some stored emotions and frustrations that you might not even be aware of.

GET IN TOUCH WITH NATURE

Often the locations and activities offered to go hand in hand. Finding a spot on the beach can offer you activities like surfing, paddleboarding, or snorkeling. However, if you found yourself in a retreat in the mountains, you’ll be pulled for a hike, a silent meditation on top of a hill, or simply being capable to renovate the air in your lungs. You should also consider what else you are open to learning at the retreat centers, for the possibility of combining your yoga practice with the ancient teachings of Ayurveda, massage techniques, or meditation sessions is not hard to find and actually quite appealing!

Yoga retreats often happen in peaceful places like mountains, deserted beaches or beautiful valleys, so take the opportunity to spend time with Mother Nature with early morning walks to explore the surroundings, taking a dip into the river of lake around the center, capturing the essence of the native animals, or witnessing the sunrise/sunset. Reconnecting with nature will bring you back the natural circadian rhythm lost in the stress of the quotidian life, making you more grateful and aware of the beauty in every detail of life.

EXPLORE YOURSELF

Withdrawing your senses from work, media, constant social stimulation will finally take you out from your comfort zone. These retreats are all about going inwards. The most wonderful thing about a retreat is that there is an optional schedule, but you should look at them as only options so you don’t have to think about where you want to go or what you want to do next!

Just give yourself space to simply be. Listen to your body and flow with whichever you feel like doing. All your levels of existence are gonna make a switch into relax mode, so many of your catecholamines (fight or flight response hormones) will decrease and you will be invited to remain in a more peaceful relaxed state throughout the entire experience.

Now is the moment to explore yourself. Many things will arise from inside you: thoughts, ideas, judgments, assumptions, questions, frustrations…and it is possible to find yourself floating in negative self-talk, but that is the moment to get to understand your limitations and accept them, while strongly stepping forward into the challenge.

We all are exigent with ourselves, and you will find the perfect time to establish a limit on that. Almost all the retreats are made to rejuvenate, detox, relax, and find inspiration more than performing exhausting activities, so don’t hesitate to escape from the schedule if your mood is not up for the daily activities proposed by the retreat members.

Often hosted in resorts, spas and other ambrosial places where they offer more possibilities available depending on location and season, you will get a chance to take a break and surrender in hands of other holistic therapies like hammam treatments or beauty packs. If you are more like a burning energy enthusiast, you will find time to sweat in the gym, tennis courts, or to perform some laps around the pool.

CONNECT WITH LIKE MINDED PEOPLE

Frequent Yoga Teacher Training and immersions can feel a bit competitive, causing you to move the focus to what you can or cannot do. In a retreat you will rarely find any pressure with your dear neighbor, rather than that, you will come across beings trying hard to take care of themselves, wishing to improve their practice and behavior patterns, and often eager to enhance your spiritual journey.

So enjoy this with ease, and if you are already falling in love with yoga, use this time to embrace and welcome like-minded people into your life. And remember — your true nature is a being of light so don’t get too attached to those feelings and emotions during your evolving process. Try to avoid any resistance from drifting you away from the intention of resolving those conflicts in a peaceful way because, with your peace and love, you will be more capable to enjoy your journey towards growth.